The Bends : Chapter Fifteen

It has been almost a week now, however the horrific incident which almost had cost both Aden and Aleeya's lives...still remains intact and raw through their minds, especially Aden. Each time when he needs to go off to a certain place...even if the journey would only took him less then twenty minutes...the thought of Ilhan breathing through his neck is simply agonizing. It wasn't about himself which he's worries about but his family..his sister Aleeya. Ilhan's released could meant he will be free, roaming around the city area looking for his target..his next prey. And Aden knew Ilhan's hatred towards him does not ends there. Losing his wife is a great lost of battle for him...and his sick ego will continues to linger in his dark soul.

Being back at their home by the hilly view however does calm and soothe their minds and thoughts....apparently Aden and Aleeya knew they will be safe back at home as Aleeya decides to spend her school holidays at their present home afterall, however Aden had to forsake his thesis a sacrificed which he had to make yet again..as he thought it will be the best for him not to step into that town again. What if Ilhan saw him lingering around there, he bounds to follow him like a hawk and eventually Aden himself might lead that hawk back to his home...his family. Just the thought of Ilhan and his hooligans mates terrorizing his family could almost kills him. Aleeya realised the changes of her brother's attitude and she becomes concerned about this. Aden used to be jovial and carefree person..has becomes more quite and solemn. Aleeya could understand why...probably Aden was remoseful after losing his friend Zhorif. No matter how much Aleeya will at times cracks silly jokes and tales to cheer him up, Aden will just smile faintly or at times he will playfully brush her hair with his fingers and then he got up from his seat and went back into his room..closing the door behind him and it's heartbreaking seeing Aden becoming like that. Adam and Zaharah becomes concerned and they knew the impact of that incident had definately cause some changes towards Aden's behaviour.

The evening breeze begins to lingers it's coolness against them, as Adam and Aden decides to chill out by the verandah as they both had their tea with biscuits which Zaharah had prepares for them, before she left with Aleeya to the supermarket which was located at the town area, as she needs to do extra cooking for Zaki and Nadia's as they both will be coming over to their home bringing their kids along, Nauruz and Zarinah that evening. Aden keeps on looking at the clock on the kitchen wall and Adam knew Aden's anxious feeling seeing his mum and sister being away from his sight not more than an hour could just freaks him out.

"Aden let it go." said Adam calmly as he looks at his son worried and tense looking eyes. Aden smile meekly as he sat back on the wooden bench by the veranda trying to relax his mind.

"For the past few days, I've been thinking about Zhorif and his family. The guilt which I have been keeping inside of me is simply killing me dad. I try to let it go...but I can't" utters Aden sadly as he picks the biscuits from the plate and held it in his hands. Aden seems to lost interest in his passion of photography much to Adam's despair. His camera and mini notebook has been left untouch eversince his return back from Zaki's apartment. "I've thought of going over to his family home probably tomorrow morning to send them my condolosense." exclaimed Aden again.

Adam sip his tea and calmly place the tea mug on the side table which has been place recently at the porch. "Well if you think that will be the best that you can do..I oblige to your decision..cause you are already a grown up man..so I believe you will know what's best for you." explained Adam with a smile. "But I just hope that you will not give up on your interest in photography. It's in your blood Aden. It will be a waste if you were to give up just like that." continues Adam as he coaxed and encourage his son for his well-being.

"No dad..I'm not giving up on my passion just yet." said Aden as he smile faintly. "I just need time to overcome all these." exclaimed Aden as he set his sight on the magnificent green hills and sigh.

Dinner time was simply a beautiful moment for everyone, cause the whole family was there, talking and giggling among themselves. As usual, after dinner Adam, Zaki and Aden will be sitting at the living room sharing their views on latest news..man talk that's what they call..however Zaki notice the changes towards Aden's silentness and this trigger some sense of concerned for his son. Zaharah and Nadia were seems to be so busy in the kitchen...chit-chatting and giggling away...mostly either they talk about their children but however the best topic was about their husbands. Aleeya...simply adores Nauruz and Zarinah as she tends to their teens growing interest..fashion and boys. Even though she knew Nauruz and Zarinah were both her uncle's adopted children but she loves them just the way they are. Both the thirteen years old had beg Aleeya to bring them along on her bike....but Aleeya being responsible enough did not comply to their demands...and told them to wait for another two years time...no matter how hard those girls tries to coaxed and beg her.

Almost everyone were already in bed, except for Aden as he sat all by himself at the veranda having his view focusing at the dark skies among the hilly sight.

"Can't shut your eyes?" it was Nadia who had startle him in his daze.

Aden smile as he swipe his long fringe off from his brow...as he allows the night breeze gently blow it's wind against his face. "How's Maya? It has been a week now I've not heard anything about her lately." asked Aden with his sight still staring hard towards the hills.

"She coping well. Give her time..she will heals." replies Nadia shortly.

"Is there any possibilities that I could visit her?" asked Aden again and this time he had his intense hazel brown eyes on Nadia instead.

"Aden, you know that can't be done." said Nadia as she stood up from the wooden bench and walk closer towards Aden.

"But why? Can't I have a special pass just for a visitation..that's all." request Aden.

"Maya, she's a special case. Alright..I shall be frank with you. She's a convict." replies Nadia as she looks away from his intense stare.

"A convict. On what ground?" asked Aden as he tries to sound calm as he could.

"Prostitution."replies Nadia shortly.

"What? Bullshit..! She was force too...her husband Ilhan his the pimp..he should be jailed not her." cried Aden as he shut his eyes as he could not imagine knowing that Maya's fate and future has been destroyed and cruelly taken away. "What will happen to her now?" asked Aden again as he regain back his calmness.

"She will be deported back to her country by end of this month." said Nadia with tears in her eyes as she feel that she had dissapointed Aden's hope and dream of helping Maya's...giving light and hope to her life.

"You know, she can't go back there..she will die. I've read through her case notes and I know...sending her back home is like pushing her back to her old terrible life again." cries Aden remosefully.

"She will be place in one of our homes there..so you need not to be worried about that. She will be safe..I assure you." utters Nadia as she tries to calm Aden's fear and anxiety.

"Can't I just see her once?" requested Aden again as he looks sadly into her aunty's eyes.

"I'm afraid ...no. It will be the best for you..to just let it go. Forget about her." exclaimed Nadia and she knew her words will definately breaks Aden's heart.

"Who's idea was it anyway?" yelled Aden freaking Nadia's out of her wit.

"Mine." Aden turn to face that voice and he was surprised it was Zaki his uncle. "I don't want you to stick your nose around her life again. Getting yourself involve with her is such unacceptable and inappropriate. You have a bright future ahead of you Aden. And with her being around you..just might drags you together with her problematic life." exclaimed Zaki intensely.

"Just who the hell you think you are? You are just my father's brother...nothing more." replies Aden furiously as he stand infront of Zaki looking coldly towards his eyes.

"I may be just your uncle...but I care for your well-being." utters Zaki with tears in his eyes as he looks sadly towards his beloved son.

"So you know..you are just an uncle..so act like one." replies Aden as he points his finger towards Zaki's face.

"Aden, don't be rude. He may be your, uncle but he's my brother so remember that. I've care for you and seeing you grown up not to be such a rude and uncoathe person." said Adam sternly as he was shocked in the way Aden had reacted towards Zaki.

"Please forgive me dad. But at times he's trying too hard playing father figure to me...even during my childhood days and I'm sick of it." utters Aden as he walks out from the veranda and headed towards his room shutting the door behind him.

"He got that attitude from me. Please forgive my son." said Zaki sadly as he let his tears fall on his cheeks. Nadia came closer towards him and held him in her arms as she tries to console his broken heart. Nadia begins to fall in dilema.

"Zaki, maybe it's time he should know who you really are." said Adam.

Zaki shakes his head and says. "No..not at this point of time. It will definately breaks him."

The next morning Aden seems to be getting ready to leave the house as he had plan the day before that he might be going off to Zhorif's home. As he check on his bike with his helmet on his right arm, suddenly he begins to feel faint. He sat on the bench by the front porch as he blings his eyes several times as he tries to regain back his composure.

"You should take some breakfast before your long trip to late Zhorif's place. Oh dear..I sound like a daddy to you again." utters Zaki as he stood by Aden's sight looking solemn.

Aden look up towards Zaki and then he smile faintly. "Thank's uncle. I know you care. Please forgive me for my rudeness towards you..on yesterday night. As long as Maya is safe..that's what matters now." replies Aden shortly as he held on to his right arm. The bruise has been gradually subside and the pain were almost gone..however the tinge of muscle spasm could still be felt if Aden tries to aggravate the movement of his right arm.

"You should go for a further checkup." said Zaki looking concerned towards his son.

"I shall be fine. Got to go now. I shall had my breakfast at the cafe near by. Simply miss the food there." grins Aden as he taps his uncles' lap and stood up..headed towards his bike. Zaki did not burge from the ground until Aden's bike was out from his sight.

"Zaharah, are you sure about this?" asked Adam as he looks at her with his doe eyes.

"I have make up my mind. I just can't let Maya destroy her life...and end up just like my mum." replies Zaharah as she nods her head.

"It won't be easy Zaharah. She refused to sign her divorce declaration paper, so no matter what she still belongs to Ilhan." utters Nadia as she shakes her head in disbelieve.

"Me adopting her got nothing to do with Aden's interest. I should put some boundaries between them..I just feel that I need to do something to help her." said Zaharah again.

"Why the hell she refused to sign the divorce declaration anyway?" asked Zaki with tense in his voice.

"Probably..she's been threatened." replies Aleeya abruptly while she still busy herself with her oil painting.

"Aleeya might be right." agrees Nadia. "But what makes you feel so sure that she could have been threatened.?" asked Nadia curiously.

"While you and uncle were away fetching that stiff lady doctor...as Maya looks at me...she keeps on repeating this name Reena. She asked Aden to safe her..saying that Reena is suffering just like her. It's kind of chilling though." explained Aleeya as she shrugged her shoulder.

"This is something which might led to other things. And I'm going to figure it out." said Nadia as she pinch the bridge of her nose while closing her eyes.

"Please bring me along..if you decides to pay Maya a visit again cause I really want to meet her." utter Zaharah. "I promised..Aden do not have to know about my plan yet...about this adoption programme" request Zaharah with a smile of hope and determination. Nadia nods her head and Zaki seems to left with no other choice but to comply to her request.

The trip towards Zhorif home was not as long as what Aden had expected. He was surprised as Zhorif home was only one hour trip away from his own house. As he park his motorbike by the front porch of Zhorif home, Aden begins to look around the area. His house stands out among the other home of that area. It was huge with many tinted windows and the front garden was simply magnificent...Aden felt as though he was in a resort island. However that soothe feelings change into sober as he walk closer towards the front door. Aden shut his hazel brown eyes and then slowly he opens his eyes again and buck up his courage to ring the doorbell. Aden waited patiently for someone to open the door. He rang again and then to his relief the door was open and there stood a young lady.

"Looking for someone?" she asked.

"Please forgive me, may I know if this home belongs to late Zhorif?" asked Aden politely.

The young girl stare at Aden for awhile and then she nodded. "Who are you and what brings you here?" asked the girl again as she frowns.

"I'm Aden." replies Aden shortly.

The young girl looks away from Aden's face when she heard his name mention and Aden can't help but to blame himslef for Zhorif's tragic fate. "I know, I should not be here but I felt that I really needs to see his family and seek their forgiveness for all this to happen in such a manner." requested Aden with tears in his eyes.

"I'm Nisrin..Zhorif fiancee. Please come on in." utters Nisrin shortly allowing Aden into the house. "Auntie, there's someone here who likes to meet you." cried Nisrin and soon enough a middle age woman came out from one of the room and the moment she saw Aden..she stood frooze on the ground. Nisrin came closer towards the lady and hold on to her hands as she brings her to a chair nearby and let her sit on it.

"This is Zhorif's mum." exclaimed Nisrin with tears in her eyes. "After his death, she falls into terrible depression...and the doctor had told me that now she is sufferring from alzhemia and her health is deteriorating too."

"This is all my fault." utters Aden sorrowfully as he held his palm together with tears in his eyes. And then adding to Aden's heartbreaks..seeing the wedding card which has been place neatly on the mantle place when suddenly he recalls Zhorif had mention to him once about his wedding preparation. Aden stood up and walk towards the mantle place as he took a card in his hand and begins reading it's contain.

"I've destroyed your future too.." exclaimed Aden sadly.

"Nothing can change that now. I love him so much..he's my best friend and we have been togther for almost ten years eversince our high school days. He was one of the graciuos and kind person that I have ever met and I just could not believe some crazy people had cruelly taken his life just like that." cried Nisrin as she looks at the marble floor trying her best not to shed any tears.

"Please forgive me for taking away your happiness. I just hope there's something which I can do to help you and his family to overcome this." utters Aden sadly.

"Just leave us and never come back." replies Nisrin as she held Zhorif's mum in her arms.

Aden knew he got to go cause his present had definately upset Nisrin even more. With heavy heart he took off with his bike as he intends to rode back home. However along the way, he received a call from one of the officer who was investigating Zhorif's death.

"Yah. Aden's here." answered Aden.

"I'm Inspector Francis Lim. There's some Zhorif's belongings at our police department. I had tried to call several times contacting his family but I did not received any response from any one of them. So if you wanted to take alook at some of his stuff or maybe you might want to bring them over to his family you can always come back to our department to collect his belongings." said the inspector.

"I shall do that as soon as I can." replies Aden shortly before he hungs up. Aden continues his ride on the way back to his home..with full of thoughts in his mind. This is simply a wake up call for him..he would not let his fear and soberness evolve and rooted too deeply in his soul cause he knew that's what Ilhan had always wanted to achieve seeing him fallen and never gets back on his line...as he's determined to set the bends in his heart straight again and untangling all the untwine roots ...soaring the trees of hope and enlightment up against all the odds.